2012 Halloween Writing Contest entries being accepted through Oct. 12

Annual Independent Mail Halloween Writing Contest entries being taken now through Oct. 12

For more than 20 years, you have been scaring and delighting us with your Halloween stories. Let's keep the tradition going! Entries for the 2012 Independent Mail Halloween Writing Contest will be accepted by mail and online starting today. The contest is open to youth in kindergarten through 12th grade, and entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12.

Independent Mail staff will judge the stories (and drawings, in our kindergarten category). First-, second- and third-place winners will be named in each age group, and the results will be published in the Oct. 28 edition of the Independent Mail.

If you submit your entry online, your story will be published on our website (www.independentmail.com) along with the three winners in each category.

Teachers, make it a class project. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, encourage the kids in your lives to get creative. Teens, take the initiative and show us your imagination. Get to your computers and grab your pen and paper. Get writing (and drawing) now!

Contest rules

Write a story to go with the introduction at www.independentmail.com/halloween Note: There is just one intro for all age groups. The stories must be no longer than 500 words. The story introduction does not count as part of your word limit. Deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 12.